Kieran had discovered that romance didn’t need to be extravagant. It didn’t need grand declarations or elaborate plans. Sometimes, it was in the small, deliberate acts—the quiet ways he could make Clara smile, the little surprises that reminded her she mattered.
After their morning at the park, he found himself thinking about her constantly. Each evening, he planned the next subtle gesture, something that could draw her in without overwhelming her. He wanted her to feel noticed, appreciated, and valued, without pressure or expectation.
The first of these small gestures came the following week. Clara arrived at their usual meeting spot, the small café near the city library, to find a tiny envelope on the table, tucked under her favorite coffee cup.
Curious, she picked it up and opened it
